No glory for Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari clinch British GP

McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton couldn’t match the might of Fernando Alonso who earned Ferrari’s first race win in 11 starts when he took the chequered flag at the Silverstone Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

Prancing Horse: Fernando Alonso celebrates after winning Ferrari’s first race of the season at the British Grand Prix (EPA)

Button’s British Grand Prix jinx continued when the McLaren driver retired from his home race after a pitstop blunder while chasing fourth place. The 2009 world champion was cleared to leave the pit lane before a right front wheel nut had been secured and he drove off with the wheel wobbling around dangerously.

Button parked up leaving teammate Hamilton to chase a podium spot but the best he could manage was fourth after starting the race from 10th on the grid.

Alonso’s drive gave Ferrari their first win of the season and he crossed the line 16.5 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s world champion Sebastian Vettel whom like Button suffered from a pit stop error.

‘I saw the problem in the pit stop with Sebastian and we were in the lead at that moment, but who knows what might have happened after that,’ the Spaniard said after the race.

‘I knew it was a race to be calm, make no mistakes, to not be off the track, and with that I knew the car had enough for victory and it came.’

Despite starting the race from pole position Australian Mark Webber was unable to make the advantage count and he finished two spots down in third.

Racing at his home Grand Prix for the first time Force India driver Paul Di Resta also failed the capitalise on his 6th place qualifying effort finishing 15th.